Download Executive Summary Plan Vision - Wake County​Greenway System

Wake County Greenway System Plan
Executive Summary
Plan Vision
The vision for this Plan is
to create a connected and
comprehensive system of
greenway trails that enhances
quality of life throughout Wake
County. There is no other
single type of investment
that can be made on a
local and regional scale that
provides such a wide range of
positive impacts. Greenways
improve quality of life by
providing opportunities for
transportation, recreation,
public health, economic
development, and
environmental stewardship.
This Plan serves as a
clear guideline for trail
planning and development,
providing a framework for
local governments and
project partners to create a
connected system of crosscounty greenway trails.
4 | Executive Summary
WHAT IS A GREENWAY?
Greenways are defined as linear, natural areas
which may be suitable for access. Some greenways
benefit the community by remaining as undeveloped open space, protecting water quality, providing valuable buffers, environmental preserves, or
wildlife corridors. Wake County has a well-established Open Space Plan and Program that is dedicated to the protection of these types of natural
corridors and systems throughout the County.
Some greenways also contain trails. These “greenway trails” enhance existing recreational opportunities, provide routes for active transportation,
and improve the overall health and quality of life
in an area. They can be paved or unpaved, and
can be designed to accommodate a variety of trail
users.
FOCUS OF THIS PLAN
This particular plan is focused on establishing
greenway trail connections. When planning trail
routes, natural greenway corridors (such as those
along waterways) are preferred over man-made
corridors (such as roadways). However, roadway
corridors are often necessary for routing trails
to certain destinations and population centers,
where other opportunities do not exist. The preference for using natural corridors for trails is due
not only to the preferred experience of the trail
user (to be in nature), but also due to the many
benefits associated with protecting our natural
lands and waterways (see pages 16-17).
Wake County Greenway System Plan
Plan Goals
The projected impact of the proposed trail system is summarized on pages 57-59
(and quantified in Appendix A), based on several of these trail benefits/goals:
IMPROVE ACCESS TO OUTDOOR RECREATION FOR
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
INCREASE CONNECTIVITY FOR MULTI-MODAL
TRANSPORTATION
SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CAPITALIZE
ON TRAIL-BASED TOURISM
PROTECT WATERWAYS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND
NATURAL AREAS ALONG GREENWAYS
Project
Website
ST
The planning
process began with a
plan was developed
with input from the
Committee in early
G COMMITT
IN
E
ER
in late 2015. The draft
Staff
Committee
Meetings Meetings
2016. The final plan
was developed
E
with further input
Regional
Trails
Workshop
GE
Mass/
Group
E-mails
EHOLDER
S
AK
ST
E
stakeholder workshop
public and a Steering
2,300+
Public
Comment
Forms
AL PUBL
I
ER
C
N
Public
Process
Overview
Municipal
Meetings
E-mail
and Phone
Outreach
Facebook
Posts by
Local Orgs
Public
Outreach
at Local
Events
Outreach
to Local
Schools
and presentations
throughout 2016.
KEY TYPES
OF MEETINGS
& PUBLIC INPUT:
Draft &
Final Plan
Presentations
Executive Summary | 5
Wake County Greenway System Plan
THE COUNTYWIDE GREENWAY SYSTEM
MAP 3.2 CONNECT PARKS AND LAKES
The Countywide Greenway System (opposite
This group of projects features 60 miles of trail
page and Map 3.0) was developed with these
in 12 segments, connecting to 15 parks (seven
key steps:
of which feature lakes). The idea of connect-
1. Collect data.
2. Map all existing trails and trails proposed in
previous plans.
3. Identify a system of regional connector
trails.
4. Prioritize the overall system into sets of
ing to parks and lakes was driven by public
feedback on desired destinations, in which
people indicated a desire to connect with
existing trails, parks, and natural areas as
the top choices out of a range of destination
types (see the public comment form results in
Chapter 2).
recommendations.
Rather than including all proposed trails from
MAP 3.3 CONNECT THE COMMUNITIES
all existing plans (Map 3.0-B), this system
With this group of projects, all 12 municipal-
focuses instead on corridors that offer the
ities will be connected into the greenway
best potential for regional trail connectiv-
system, with 19 miles of trail in six segments.
ity. It is based primarily upon connections
These projects allow for key connections in
between existing trails and the ability to
Fuquay-Varina and Zebulon, plus more direct
connect to destinations such as parks, lakes,
greenway trail connections between Raleigh,
and downtown/town centers.
Cary, Apex, and Morrisville.
MAP 3.4 COMPLETE THE SYSTEM
THE GREENWAY SYSTEM BY PROJECT
CATEGORIES
There are 147 miles of proposed trail in this
The overall system of recommendations is
group, made up of over 30 project segments.
organized into the following set of project cat-
These longer-term projects (like all projects)
egories in Chapter 3:
could be completed sooner, depending on how
they are implemented and on the opportunities that arise to complete the system in the
MAP 3.1 BRIDGE THE GAPS
The focus of these “Bridge the Gaps” priority
coming years and decades. See Chapter 4 for
more on the overall implementation strategy.
projects is connectivity, featuring 48 miles of
trail in 23 segments. The projects are spread
IMPLEMENTATION RESOURCES
throughout the county, with at least one
Chapter 4 features information on the rec-
project in each of Wake County’s 12 municipal-
ommended organizational framework for
ities. These fill critical gaps within the exist-
implementation. funding strategies, policy
ing network of trails, and serve as catalyst
guidance, and detailed action steps.
projects where trails are currently lacking.
For more on these projects, see the project
cutsheets in Chapter 3 of the Plan.
6 | Executive Summary
Wake County Greenway System Plan
COUNTYWIDE GREENWAY SYSTEM
BLUE JAY
POINT
FALLS LAKE
LANDFILL
PARK
RDU
UMSTEAD
LAKE
CRABTREE
ROBERTSON
MILLPOND
AMERICAN
TOBACCO
TRAIL
OAK
VIEW
MUDCATS
STADIUM
LAKE
MYRA
YATES
MILL
CROWDER
DISTRICT
PARK
LAKE
WHEELER
LAKE
BENSON
HARRIS
LAKE
Executive Summary | 7